Smathers defends titles at North East Invitational

By JOE CUNEOContributing writer

May 5, 2013 12:01 AM

Union City High School sophomore Connor Hanlin, 16, has a large lead during the 3200 meter relay at the North East Invitational in North East on May 4. Eighteen boys teams and 18 girls teams competed. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

By JOE CUNEOContributing writer

May 5, 2013 12:01 AM

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NORTH EAST -- Hours before Ryan Smathers was to take part in his school's prom court, the senior was the king of his home track once more at the 19th annual North East Invitational Saturday at North East High School.

Coming off a short turnaround following a second-place finish in the 1,600 at the Baldwin Invitational Friday night, Smathers defended a pair of titles with wins in the 800- and 1,600-meter events.

Smathers pulled away from the field in the 1,600 with a last-lap kick that left a widening gap between him and the rest of the field before crossing in 4 minutes, 20.65 seconds. He outlasted his competition once more in the 800 by overtaking Girard's Corey Twichel in the home stretch of the first lap, finishing with a 1:57.1.

Smathers, who will be attending the United States Military Academy in West Point come fall, said his high school track career has come full circle.

"This whole year has been full of nostalgia," he said."Every meet I've been thinking back to freshman year, whenever I was running with seniors and thinking 'this is where I used to run and now I'm at this spot.'"

Memories were also on the mind of Central Tech senior Greg Miaczynski, who set meet records with respective times of 14.35 and 38.55 in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

"I've been doing this for four years now," he said. "And I really just wanted to get it done and set these records."

Miaczynski said he felt extra motivation to break the records with his older brother, Brett, as the holder in the 200 from 2011.

"I just wanted to get my name in there, especially since it's local and the rest of our family and friends will see it," he said. "He got me in the 200, but I got him in the hurdles, so it's alright," Miaczynski added with a smile.

Smathers wasn't the only senior Grapepicker to dominate the 800 and 1,600 events, as Anne Lewis won both races by sizable margins.

Lewis won the 800 with a time of 2:25.20, and defeated second-place finisher Courtney Sargent by more than 3 seconds.

Lewis nearly doubled her margin of victory in the 1,600 with a 5:30.29 time.

Union City's Eve Gardner was the only other double-winner in girls track, winning the 200 and 400 with times of 26.71 and 1:00.46, respectively.

Hickory's Sophia Fustos had a winning shot put throw of 43 feet, 101/2 inches, accounting for the only meet record on the girls' side. Fustos also won the discus with a throw of 112-8.

North East's Sarah Parish won the 100 hurdles (16.61) and the high jump (4-10).

On the boys side, Smathers was the only participant who was part of three victories.

He also joined North East's winning 1,600 relay team that registered a time of 3:31.70.

But Smathers isn't in a hurry to leave behind his North East teammates just yet.

"At this moment, I'm just enjoying my last days and just seeing what I can get out of it with the other seniors," Smathers said.

Smathers, who won gold in the 1,600 at states in 2012, said he hopes to repeat the feat again this year.

"I'm hoping to take gold again," he said. "I'm looking forward to Districts in a couple of weeks."

North East coach Dick Gregg said he's happy to still be coaching Smathers.

"He's a workhorse," he said. "He's an all-around good kid. Some athletes, when they're really good, they get up on a pedestal. He isn't like that"

On Saturday, several other Erie County boys topped the winners' podium more than once.

Northwestern's Kyle McKeen's leap of 6-4 earned him first in the high jump as did his length of 21-10 in the long jump. McKeen's teammate Corey Shinko was also a double-winner, taking the triple jump (41-11) and javelin (164-5).

Hickory's Luke Lewis won the other throwing events, with tosses of 57-8 and 149-2 in the shot put and discus, respectively.